Why do we have padded cycling shorts ?

[Wankelschrauben]

Personally, I've not yet had a problem with the minimal padded PROLITE seat on my bike Aluminium bike.

I've not had a problem with the Iscaselle padded racing saddle on my Steel racer.

I never had a problem with the sofa on my old Chopper that I used to ride as a kid.

Rather than the seat being too thickly padded or not enough padded, I like to think the culprit is the height and length of journey.

 

[Fiona N]

I find it somewhat amusing that someone whose daily commute is - what was it - half a mile and weekend rides are 25 miles is being prescriptive about what's what.

The whole 'padded' shorts and 'gel' saddle debate is fatuous if you conflate cheap shorts with a wodge of spongy padding with a pair of performance shorts in which there's a properly constructed pad to minimise chaffling, or those dreadful broad 'comfort' saddles with about an inch depth of soft padding as opposed to a performance saddle with about 3 or 4 mm of a firm gel which acts as a shock absorber for the sit bones.

If you can't discriminate between these sorts of options, it's no wonder you're only cycling 25 miles with a gel saddle with or without 'padded' shorts

 

[400bhp]

I find it somewhat amusing that someone whose daily commute is - what was it - half a mile and weekend rides are 25 miles is being prescriptive about what's what.

The whole 'padded' shorts and 'gel' saddle debate is fatuous if you conflate cheap shorts with a wodge of spongy padding with a pair of performance shorts in which there's a properly constructed pad to minimise chaffling, or those dreadful broad 'comfort' saddles with about an inch depth of soft padding as opposed to a performance saddle with about 3 or 4 mm of a firm gel which acts as a shock absorber for the sit bones.

If you can't discriminate between these sorts of options, it's no wonder you're only cycling 25 miles with a gel saddle with or without 'padded' shorts

+1

 

[MontyVeda]

I find it somewhat amusing that someone whose daily commute is - what was it - half a mile and weekend rides are 25 miles is being prescriptive about what's what.

The whole 'padded' shorts and 'gel' saddle debate is fatuous if you conflate cheap shorts with a wodge of spongy padding with a pair of performance shorts in which there's a properly constructed pad to minimise chaffling, or those dreadful broad 'comfort' saddles with about an inch depth of soft padding as opposed to a performance saddle with about 3 or 4 mm of a firm gel which acts as a shock absorber for the sit bones.

If you can't discriminate between these sorts of options, it's no wonder you're only cycling 25 miles with a gel saddle with or without 'padded' shorts

I assume you're referring to me.

My weekend rides are 25-40 miles, as stated, yet you only quote the lower 25 miles to prove what? I don't cycle far enough to know my seat is comfy?

 

[400bhp]

I assume you're referring to me.

My weekend rides are 25-40 miles, as stated, yet you only quote the lower 25 miles to prove what? I don't cycle far enough to know my seat is comfy?

Fine up to the miles you are doing.

I find it's a different ball game (pun intended) at distances > around 80 miles.

 

[lulubel]

I'm still using the saddle that came with my bike. It isn't hugely padded, but not as hard as some of the saddles I've seen on men's bikes. I generally wear padded shorts, but when I was commuting (10 miles each way), I often didn't wear them if it was raining - I certainly don't find wet padded shorts comfortable - and didn't experience any discomfort over that distance. I haven't tried riding longer distances without padding, so I don't know if it would be uncomfortable or not. I'm not sure if it matters as much for women as for men because many of us have more natural padding (speaking for myself here ).

Anyway, I'm going to be in the market for a saddle soon because the one on my trainer bike is like a razor blade, and I can't imagine spending more than 5 minutes on that!

 

[colinr]

My single most expensive item of clothing is a pair of bibshorts. I ride a razor blade Fizik Arione and use brand name chamois cream. This is what I find most comfortable for the riding I do, it's that amazing phenomenon known as personal preference.

 

[Fiona N]

I assume you're referring to me.
As they say, if the cap fits...

My weekend rides are 25-40 miles, as stated, yet you only quote the lower 25 miles to prove what? I don't cycle far enough to know my seat is comfy?

I just brought to mind the distance I recalled - 25miles or 40 miles, really not much difference from my perspective. If you were saying 300km or 400km then we'd listen ...

The point is, if you're not really testing the limits, anything is likely to be OK. I typically ride a hilly 20 mile ride with a rucksac to go shopping, returning with 15kgs of stuff. I don't bother with cycling shorts usually but I do use some Gore Bike Wear outer baggies with no crotch seams as there's no point doing damage when I might be out on the weekend for a 300km - with Selle Italia gel saddle and Giordana lightly padded shorts.

There was a guy rode the Dunwich Dynamo (> 100 miles) on a Boris bike. It's all do-able if you're willing to accept some discomfort but there's an old Army adage - any fool can be uncomfortable

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Didn't I once read somewhere that if you have a lot of padding on the seat, the padding can move round on the seat, shifting your balance and adversely affect your riding position?

+1

 

[screenman]

Why the comment about fewer spokes earlier on? Narrow saddle and padded shorts have worked for me for the last 40 years, yes I have ridden bikes with padded unshaped or poorly shaped saddle and they are not for me.

Tips on making a saddle feel more comfortable, push harder on the pedals.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I find it somewhat amusing that someone whose daily commute is - what was it - half a mile and weekend rides are 25 miles is being prescriptive about what's what.

The whole 'padded' shorts and 'gel' saddle debate is fatuous if you conflate cheap shorts with a wodge of spongy padding with a pair of performance shorts in which there's a properly constructed pad to minimise chaffling, or those dreadful broad 'comfort' saddles with about an inch depth of soft padding as opposed to a performance saddle with about 3 or 4 mm of a firm gel which acts as a shock absorber for the sit bones.

If you can't discriminate between these sorts of options, it's no wonder you're only cycling 25 miles with a gel saddle with or without 'padded' shorts

+10000000000000000000000000000000000000000

 

[pshore]

Why the comment about fewer spokes earlier on?

To some, fewer spokes make a lighter faster accellerating wheel. To others, it is an inferior wheel with reduced strength that is marketed as better but actually costs the manufacturer less in raw materials and is sold for more money.

I was drawing a parallel with saddles. If you reduce the padding its less raw materials cheaper to make. You market the saddle as better, say lighter, less chafing and then sell it for more and then sell expensive padded shorts to to consumer. I am on the fence here.

My medium padding touring seat is very good and I can use it 8 hours a day every day on a steel frame with 35mm tyres. It's not perfect so I use padded shorts too. I have ridden it 6 hours in just running shorts too but you start to feel the lack of extra padding beyond that time.

I am struggling with my road bike saddle tho, 4 hours and I am done. I think its a San Marco skn racing. I am new to 23mm bikes and my s/h ride is alu on the rear so I am still wondering if it is the saddle or just getting a battering from road buzz.

I am starting to be tempted by a brooks or specialized fit service (or an audax bike).

 

[Wankelschrauben]

I've just tried padded shorts for the 1st time, just £25 cycles Altura ones and my god do they make a difference, no chaffing at all and no saddle pains or anything.

The jersey was brilliant also, literally kept me sweat free on a 24 mile ride done in 50 minutes.

 

[fossyant]

Saddles are 'bottom' specific....

I used to call my Selle Itallia Flite Titanium an 'Ar$e splitter' - this is from 15 years use.... - I've just about got used to it.

I love my Rolls - hmmm - they are still used today to get the weight limit down, and they are nice.

I use a Charge Knife on my commuter - minimal padding, etc, but, it is really really comfy - and as light as my Flite... and British !!!!

A colleague came in this week and said, that doesn't look comfortable - too my KNIFE... I said , oh it is nice and comfy....

 

[Angelfishsolo]

To some, fewer spokes make a lighter faster accellerating wheel. To others, it is an inferior wheel with reduced strength that is marketed as better but actually costs the manufacturer less in raw materials and is sold for more money.

I was drawing a parallel with saddles. If you reduce the padding its less raw materials cheaper to make. You market the saddle as better, say lighter, less chafing and then sell it for more and then sell expensive padded shorts to to consumer. I am on the fence here.

My medium padding touring seat is very good and I can use it 8 hours a day every day on a steel frame with 35mm tyres. It's not perfect so I use padded shorts too. I have ridden it 6 hours in just running shorts too but you start to feel the lack of extra padding beyond that time.

I am struggling with my road bike saddle tho, 4 hours and I am done. I think its a San Marco skn racing. I am new to 23mm bikes and my s/h ride is alu on the rear so I am still wondering if it is the saddle or just getting a battering from road buzz.

I am starting to be tempted by a brooks or specialized fit service (or an audax bike).

Racing saddles are uncomfortable full stop.